Most dogs live for about 12.5 years on average, though this varies enormously by breed — from around 8–10 years for giant breeds like the Great Dane to 15–18 years for small breeds such as the Chinese Crested (McMillan et al., Scientific Reports, 2024). The dog life expectancy calculator above uses published breed averages to estimate your dog’s lifespan, the typical range around it, and — if you enter their age — roughly how many years may be ahead.
The number the calculator uses
The estimate is built from breed-specific median and average lifespan figures. The strongest single dataset is the 2024 study of 584,734 UK dogs across 155 breeds, which reported an overall median life expectancy of 12.5 years and confirmed that body size and face shape are the two biggest predictors of how long a dog lives (Scientific Reports). We cross-check each breed against the American Kennel Club’s breed guidance, which groups lifespans roughly by size: giant breeds ~8–10 years, large breeds ~10–12, medium ~10–13, and small/toy breeds 12–16+. Females live marginally longer than males on average, so the tool nudges the estimate slightly by sex.
How long do dogs live? Average and typical range
Across all breeds, the median is about 12.5 years, with most dogs falling between roughly 10 and 14 years. Small dogs consistently outlive large ones — a Great Dane ages roughly twice as fast as a small terrier. Some well-known patterns from the CSV cluster: the life expectancy of Great Dane dogs is about 8–10 years; Border Collie life expectancy is around 12–15 years (median ~13); the life expectancy of a wiener dog (Dachshund, also called a sausage or weenie dog) is roughly 12–16 years; and Rottweiler life expectancy sits at about 9–10 years. The shortest dog life expectancy generally belongs to giant breeds — Great Danes, St. Bernards and Mastiffs — while toy breeds like the Chinese Crested and Pomeranian live longest.
Dog life expectancy chart by breed
| Breed | Typical life expectancy | Size class |
|---|---|---|
| Great Dane | 8–10 years | Giant |
| St. Bernard | 8–10 years | Giant |
| Rottweiler | 9–10 years | Large |
| Chow Chow | 8–12 years | Medium |
| Doberman Pinscher | 10–12 years | Large |
| German Shepherd (Alsatian) | 9–13 years | Large |
| Dogo Argentino | 9–15 years | Large |
| Greyhound | 10–13 years | Large |
| Dalmatian | 11–13 years | Medium |
| Portuguese Water Dog | 11–13 years | Medium |
| Border Collie | 12–15 years | Medium |
| Siberian Husky | 12–14 years | Medium |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy) | 12–14 years | Medium |
| Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) | 12–16 years | Medium |
| Carolina Dog | 12–15 years | Medium |
| Dachshund (Sausage / Wiener dog) | 12–16 years | Small |
| Cockapoo | 12–15 years | Small |
| Maltese | 12–15 years | Toy |
| Pomeranian | 12–16 years | Toy |
| Bichon Frise | 14–15 years | Small |
| Havanese | 14–16 years | Small |
| Chinese Crested | 13–18 years | Toy |
How to use the calculator
- Select your dog’s breed (or “Mixed breed / other” if unsure).
- Optionally add your dog’s current age to see the years typically ahead and the current life stage.
- Optionally pick a sex — females average marginally longer lifespans.
- Read the estimated life expectancy, the typical range, and the timeline showing where your dog sits.
Frequently asked questions
Which dogs have the shortest life expectancy?
Giant breeds. Great Danes and St. Bernards typically live 8–10 years, and Rottweilers around 9–10, because larger dogs age faster and are more prone to bloat, joint disease and certain cancers (AKC).
How long is a Border Collie’s life expectancy?
Around 12–15 years, with a peer-reviewed median close to 13 years — among the longer-lived medium breeds (Scientific Reports, 2024).
Does kidney disease change my dog’s life expectancy?
It can, and it depends heavily on the stage at diagnosis. Vets use the IRIS staging system; commonly cited survival figures run from more than a year in early Stage 1–2 (often 1–3 years with a therapeutic diet and good hydration) down to weeks or a few months at end-stage Stage 4. Early detection makes a large difference, so ask your vet about screening (overview of CKD stages). This is not a prognosis for your individual dog — your vet is the right source.
What does a heart murmur mean for life expectancy?
A murmur is a sign, not a diagnosis. Many are caused by degenerative mitral valve disease, which progresses slowly; dogs in the preclinical stages can live for years, but once congestive heart failure develops the outlook shortens considerably, with reported survival often under a year (peer-reviewed MMVD survival study). A cardiac work-up is needed to know the stage.
How long do dogs with Cushing’s disease live?
With medication (trilostane or mitotane), average survival is roughly 2–2.5 years after diagnosis, and longer with surgery or radiation for suitable cases; many dogs are ultimately affected by other age-related conditions rather than the Cushing’s itself (Cornell; Merck Veterinary Manual).
Is a “prairie dog” a dog breed?
No — a prairie dog is a burrowing rodent, not a canine, so it isn’t in this calculator. In the wild they typically live only a few years; in captivity they can reach around 8 years.
Sources
- McMillan, K.M., et al. (2024). Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. nature.com
- American Kennel Club — How Long Do Dogs Live? akc.org
- American Kennel Club — Great Dane life span. akc.org
- PetMD — 21 Longest-Living Dog Breeds. petmd.com
- Cornell Riney Canine Health Center — Cushing’s syndrome. vet.cornell.edu
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Cushing disease. merckvetmanual.com
- Myxomatous mitral valve disease survival (peer-reviewed). NCBI
Reviewed for accuracy against McMillan et al. (2024, Scientific Reports), the American Kennel Club, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Last updated: July 17, 2026.
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